The next few days were harrowing, at best. We were all starving, cold, tired, and full of anger and despair in equal amounts. I tried not to think about those who had died back at the Warden camp, much less those who died during our journey. It was hard, though. So, so hard. I had taken to staying at the very front, keeping my face forward so the others wouldn't see my tears, my weakness.

Every night was a battle. Each night I had to fight off nightmares of not just the Darkspawn, but what happened. We managed to find some stray wood on our trek, either from trees or the like, but there was little, and we had to use it all sparingly. Currently, we were in a makeshift camp, and I was sitting on a rock a ways from the camp, just thinking. The dwarf who had helped me organize things throughout this debacle, the blonde one, known as Gamit Strongarm, came up and sat down next to me with a grunt.

Silence reigned between us. Nothing but the crackle of a few fires and talking in the distance. We watched the camp from a distance, me watching the ponies and him... Well, I can't say I really bothered to ask. I was watching the ponies because, while there were not as many at the Warden camp, the raid still hit them the hardest. They went from a total of eighty ponies in the camp, to just under thirty.

I didn't know much about ponies, but I did think they were cute, and innocent. Too innocent for a war like this. But somehow they were the main contributors to the Wardens. I sighed. Just another weird thing to count among the list of weird things in this fucked up world.

The silence continued until he finally spoke.

"Ya know, you've done a good job keeping things together," he complimented. I just grunted, pulling a cloak a pony had thrown together for me tighter around my body. "Seriously, much as some of us may blame you, many more of us are thankful." I stayed quiet for a time.

"...I still failed, though," I said quietly. He quirked a hairy blonde eyebrow.

"What are you going on about? You ain't failed no one," he said.

"Tell that to the dead we left behind," I said with a snort. He frowned.

"Look lass, you've done what ya can. That's plenty enough. Ya don't need to be so hard on yourself," he said softly. I sighed and stood up, starting to walk away.

"Just leave me alone," I said. I didn't hear him reply, nor did I hear him follow after me as I walked over to one of the few trees around and leaned against it, watching the camp from afar.

From here, things looked peaceful. Serene. A far cry from what we'd been faced with just about five days ago. And yet I also knew that every dwarf, every elf, every human and every pony was wracked with grief and fear.

And they weren't alone. Knowing that I had essentially left the other Wardens to die, the people who had saved me and cared for me instead of leaving me to rot like I did them... it sickened me.

Tears flowed from my eyes unbidden as I recalled their faces, their smiles, their laughs and teases and jokes...

...I don't think I'd be able to forgive myself for leaving them to their deaths. I clutched my amulet tightly.

I stifled a sniffle and wiped my tears, slowly trekking back into the camp.

We still needed to find shelter.

After three more days of trudging through the tundra, we finally saw a glow in the distance.

"I see light up ahead! Let's hightail it people! It could be a village!" I called over the din of the snowstorm raging around us.

And hightail it we did. The glow got more intense, and closer, and after a number of hours of walking through the two foot deep snow, we saw what was making the glow.

A massive blue barrier, surrounding a city of crystals. At least, I figured that's what they were, what with the glittering and gleaming structures.

"It's the Crystal Empire! We're saved!" A pegasus mare cried out. A number of others voiced similar thoughts and rejoiced.

I didn't whoop and holler like the others, but I did smile pretty wide. Finally, I could give these people some stability back, give them a chance to rebuild.

With that in mind, we quickened our pace, and soon enough reached the barrier surrounding the city. I was about to start trying to figure out how to get through when one of the ponies just walked in.

I blinked at this, before sighing and following them, everyone else following behind me. To my surprise, it was much warmer inside the barrier, and there was little to no snow.

To my further surprise, I could now say without a doubt that the structures were indeed made of crystals of all different colors. I can't imagine how rich they must be if they have enough crystals to make buildings out of them.

We eventually reached what seemed to be a guard checkpoint, and I was surprised once again to see crystal armor on ponies. Not only that, but the ponies had crystalline sheens to their coats and manes.

I managed to shake off my bafflement enough to approach them. They stopped me with their spears.

"Halt! Who are you? And who are these people?" One of them, a stallion, asked. I cleared my throat.

"I'm a Grey Warden. We came from the northern mountains. Please help us, these refugees have nowhere to go. The Darkspawn killed everyone, even... Even General Shining Armor," I explained, saying the last part a bit softly.

I saw their eyes widen. They looked to each other briefly, then back to me. "Prove you are, as you say, a Warden, first," the stallion said. I presented the only thing I could think of besides the copies of the treaties in my bag. My amulet. Their eyes widened further, before the stallion regained his steely look. "Follow me. The Princess will want to see you. Sergeant Twinkle Berry will help the refugees."

I nodded, silently following the stallion through the streets of the city whilst the mare guard, Twinkle Berry, lead the refugees elsewhere.

The walk through the streets was mostly silent save for the murmurs of the townsfolk. I idly thought I heard the word, "horn head" but ignored it. We quickly arrived at a giant pillar of blue crystal that somehow doubled as a castle, and the guard stallion led me inside, two more guards opening the doors for us.

We walked through a few halls and up a number of stairs, passing more guards, as well as decorative armor stands, vases and flowerpots, and banners, before reaching another set of doors, only more intricate than the last ones.

The guards opened them for us, revealing a throne room, one empty and the other seating what I was pretty sure was an Alicorn with pink fur and a purple and gold mane and tail, along with a gold crown and regalia. The guard bowed.

"Your Highness, this Grey Warden brings news of your husband," he said.

"Thank you, Star Tree. You may return to your post. And tell the other guards to leave us be, please," the Alicron ordered softly. He nodded, and they all did as told. He left the room, the other guards doing the same. I bowed before her. "So, where is my husband? Is he okay?"

I paused. How was I going to tell her he was dead? That he was gone? That wasn't news anyone wanted to bring to a spouse. Still, I had to, or it would just get worse.

"...I am very, very sorry Your Highness but... Warden-Commander Shining Armor died in a Darkspawn raid upon our camp. I... I'm all that's left, along with a few refugees," I said slowly. I could tell she was in shock from her pause alone.

"W-What?" She finally spoke. I tried to hold back my own emotions as I clarified.

"I'm truly sorry, You Highness. Your husband is gone," I repeated. More silence. Then, I heard some stifled sobs.

"...D-did he-," she began. I nodded.

"I didn't see it for myself, but I know he died like a hero," I answered. I could tell she was trying her best to not fully break down.

"Thank you... I-I'll call for somepony to show you to a room. You can go," she said, choking back a sob. I nodded, turning and walking out the door.

Once it closed, I could plainly hear her sobs. She needed some time, I knew.

We all did.

Author's Note

Alright, the end of the first arc and the beginning of the next. I still feel iffy on the last bit, but it'll have to do I guess. At least, until I come up with something better. Once more, thanks for reading, my lovelies.

-Timeless Celestial